DETROIT -- Pavel Datsyuk has come a long way from the frustrated player who described his performance as awful earlier this season.

Lately, even the weather is lifting his spirits.

"Of course I’m happy, because it’s a holiday and snow come today," Datsyuk said Tuesday, following the Detroit Red Wings’ 3-2 win against St. Louis. "It’s awesome. It looks like real winter coming. I miss snow."

The Red Wings missed seeing a dominant Datsyuk at the start of the season, when he posted just 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and a minus-3 rating in 16 games. Since then, he’s excelled at both ends of the ice. He has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) and a plus-14 rating in the past 20 games.

He was tied for eighth in the NHL scoring race heading into Wednesday’s games and has been one of the catalysts for a team that is 14-5 in its past 19 games and has won 11 in a row at home.

"We’re so spoiled with him playing this way," teammate Niklas Kronwall said. "Sure, he got off to a little slow start, but right now, he’s got the energy and the passion and he’s all over the ice.

"Anytime he’s out there he’s making a difference, playing great offensively and defensively. One of the best players in the league."

Teammates knew the player who has averaged more than a point a game since 2005-06 wouldn’t be held in check for long.

"A few guys got off to an abnormal type of offensive start," Danny Cleary said. "I just think it’s confidence. You get one, you get two, you get some puck luck and all the sudden it snowballs.

"When you get some chances and things go your way your energy level seems to go higher and higher. He finds a way. His will is ... you just can’t break it."

Datsyuk has been more engaged physically. Deceptively strong, he’s been knocking bigger opponents off the puck. After he hit Barret Jackman early in the third period Tuesday, the abrasive defenseman slammed his stick against the glass when no penalty was called.

"They try to hit me and I try to hit them," Datsyuk said. "Nothing personal. Today, maybe I got him, but most of the time he got (me)."

Datsyuk scored the game-tying goal against the Blues and picked up his 10th multiple-point game since Nov. 19. Coach Mike Babcock took advantage of the last change at home to get Datsyuk away from Blues center David Backes, who shut him down the first two games in St. Louis.

But, in typical fashion, he deflected questions about himself toward the team and his linemates.

"I feel better when team play great," Datsyuk said. "It’s more important that everybody excited, have fun and play hard."

Oddly, Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg did not click together on the same line with Cleary earlier this season. But Datsyuk has found a comfort zone with big wingers Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi.

"They’re both big guys and they give (the puck) to me in the offensive zone and help me in the defensive (zone)," Datsyuk said. "They’re holding puck and they both can shoot and skate. Two big guys, I can’t miss them."

Babcock said that line comes at opponents with a lot of pace.

"They skate and make plays," Babcock said. "Mule can shoot the puck like no man. Ever since Bert’s come back from injury (Nov. 19), he’s been pretty good."

Datsyuk’s three-year Selke Trophy run ended last season when Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler won the award for best defensive forward. Datsyuk might get it back this year. He is second in the NHL in takeaways (50) and has the best faceoff percentage on the team (55.6 percent).

"There’s a whole bunch of really good players in the league that are stars, but the ones that are superstars got something different -- they got soul, they got a work ethic that’s second to none, they love the game," Babcock said. "Pavel’s made himself a better player because he works so hard off ice and he’s so committed on ice and he understands the game at both ends of the rink.

"That’s what makes him so dangerous. And he plays his best when it matters the most."

The Red Wings have two big games coming up: Friday at Chicago, in their first of six meetings with the Blackhawks, and a rematch with the Blues Saturday at home in the traditional New Year’s Eve game.﻿